Top Trend to Wear in Spring 2013: Emerald, Pantone Color of the Year

Wondering how to pull off Pantone’s Color of the Year? Here’s how!

Tori Huntsinger

As temperatures rise and the days last a little longer, it’s only natural to want to break out of a dreary all-black winter wardrobe. Adding a bright pop to your outfit is simple with a color as fun as emerald green. The color experts at Pantone, who named emerald green as the Color of the Year for 2013, say the hue is “lively, radiant, renewing, and positive.” I styled a few outfits to prove how easy it is to wear emerald this spring.

If you want to start out slowly, wear pieces with green accents. My friend (and fellow Marist student) Meg Flannery plays around with emerald details, like the leaves on her skirt, to brighten up an otherwise neutral ensemble. I love wearing one bright green piece at a time, like my emerald skirt from Francesca’s Collection (find them at the Poughkeepsie Galleria). If you focus on one key piece, keep the rest of the outfit simple with neutrals or other jewel-toned shades, like navy blue. Stick to cool tones if you’re hesitant to mix colors. You can also incorporate metallic gold accents for a more sophisticated look.

Don’t be afraid to make a major statement with a green dress. I bought the emerald dress in the gallery below at Kohl’s last year, and I’m always surprised by its versatility. To prevent the color from overwhelming you, wear pieces with simple silhouettes. I also like to wear black accessories with my green dress for balance.

For all the fearless fashionistas out there, I dare you to try your hand at wearing green in a wild pattern. Meg’s tribal-printed shorts mix green with red, yellow, and purple — colors you’re traditionally warned against mixing. The thin stripes aren’t overpowering when worn with a plain black top. Her yellow shoes, which pull from the yellow in the print, complete the outfit.

Have fun experimenting with green attire this spring! See more of our favorite looks in the gallery below.

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Hudson Valley Magazine’s official style and beauty blog keeps the Valley’s trend-setting crowd updated on all things fashion. From local sales and trunk shows to our latest editorials and street-style photo galleries, we’ll tell you what’s hot (and what’s not), what to wear and how to wear it, and how to be posh without ending up in the poorhouse.